The Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad broke through for his maiden Group 1 win in the 2018 Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth last Saturday.

Voodoo Lad, above winning at Caulfield, was the winner of the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Voodoo Lad had been Group 1 placed twice before and was a well-deserved winner at the handy odds of $13 beating the local sprinter Enticing Star ($6) and the Peter Gelagotis trained Malaguerra ($15).

Last year’s winner Viddora was sent out as the $2.40 favourite but the Lloyd Kennewell trained mare failed to fire and finished eleventh in the fourteen horse field.

Voodoo Lad had performed consistently at Group 1 level over the last couple of years which included a second in the 2016 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and a second in the 2017 $1.25m Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight.

Winning jockey Damien Oliver was at his brilliant best and after settling Voodoo Lad near the tail of the field from barrier thirteen in the fourteen horse field, found clear space in the straight the seven year old extend nicely down the middle of the straight to overhaul the placegetters.

“I always thought this horse would be well-suited to this race, the pressure of the 1200 metres and he showed that today. He finished too strong for them,” Oliver told SKY Thoroughbred Central.

“The wide barrier forced our hand to ride him cold as he likes to be ridden. And coming to the turn I was following the right horse Enticing Star who had Malaguerra in front of us and I was able to peel off their backs.

“This horse has got a great turn of foot once you switch him off and produce him late.”

Weir was quick to praise the skill and timing of Oliver who produced another first class ride from an awkward barrier.

“It was some ride,” Weir said.

“He was back on the fence, last of all at one stage and he went through them and then got to the outside.”

2018 Winterbottom Stakes Results